Title: Soul Searching - The Epilogue.Rating: PG 13Summary: In which we learn what happens next - to Fred, Illyria and Wesley; Drogyn; Lorne; Angel and Connor; Buffy and Willow; and last, but by no means least, Spike.

Title: Chapter 18: Part Two I could a tale unfold whose lightest word Would harrow up thy soulRating PG 13 Warning for readers of a delicate disposition - graphic violence ahead.

Summary: Spike summed up the plan so eloquently, I thought I’d let him remind us. “You mean do we know what all that mumbo jumbo about numbers and kabbals, dark matter and mathematical transfiguration formulae means?” Spike shook his head. "Not a jot." He picked up a sword and strode to the position marked as his on Willow's diagram. "Does it matter?"

----------------------------------------------------------Author's Note I've divided this final chapter into two parts as it is otherwise overly long. My thanks, as ever, to my betas bogwtich and myfeetshowit, without whom the sequel to Family: Blood Calls to Blood would never have been finished. It forms the second part of the L.A. Times Series which has just been nominated in the SDFA awards in the Angelic, Best Series and Endurance categories.----------------------------------------------------------

Spike has sacrificed his memories of loving Buffy for the chance of finding Fred's soul. The newly corporealised Wolfram and Hart/The First combination inhabiting Hamilton's corpse, recruited Drusilla to take Angel's Shanshu from him by turning Connor into a vampire. Spike, Angel and Buffy teamed up to save Connor and Spike made sure Drusilla would no longer be a threat to anyone by killing her. Meanwhile, a resurrected Wesley is working with Willow on finding a weapon to destroy the invincible Wolfgang Hartram, a method of crossing between time lines and other dimensions, and a way of contacting Drogyn.

Author's noteFor those readers who haven't read the prequel Family:Blood Calls to Blood.

Our heros are still fighting the good fight and

1. Fred's soul wasn't destroyed when Illyria took over her body.2. In a scene that takes place in Fred's old room at the Hyperion, she talks to Spike about space-time theory and her failing grasp of who she is. Knox makes a film of the work with which she's covered the walls on furniture. _____________________________________________________________________________________

Previously on Soul SearchingAngel, Buffy, Spike and Ilyria have rescued Connor from the clutches of Drusilla who is working with Wolfgang Hartram and The First to bring about Angel's destruction. They realise that Dru will always be a serious threat to them all.Meanwhile, Willow, Wesley and Lorne have relocated to The Hole in the Wall, a safe house Whistler found for them before he left for Cleveland. They take with them Fred's rabbit, Feigenbaum, and a video camera Illyria recovered from Wesley's former office in the ruined Wolfram and Hart building.______________________________________________________________________________________( Chapter 15Collapse )_________________________________Earlier chapters

My grateful thanks to my wonderful betas bogwitch and myfeetshowit without whom this chapter would never have seen the light of day. It's probably the most difficult one I've ever had to write since starting the L.A. Times Series.

___________________________________________________________Previously on Soul Searching. So far, Spike has resisted the temptations on offer from Drusilla, Wolfram and Hart and The First. Willow has pinpointed Connor's whereabouts, our heroes are splitting forces, Wesley, Willow and Lorne are decamping to a 'safe house' courtesy of Whistler's contacts while and Angel, Spike, Buffy and Illyria head off to find Connor. When last we heard from her, Drusilla was preparing for a very special party.

Previously on Soul Searching: Buffy and Angel are trapped in a limousine in the underground garage at Wolfram and Hart. Spike and Drusilla are getting the tour of the motor pool as the final stage in Spike's seduction by the Senior Partners. Spike has seen Connor held captive somewhere, on the TV monitor in Angel's former penthouse suite, and Drusilla continues to try to win Spike back.( Chapter 12: His soul thou canst not have.Collapse )

Previously on Soul Searching: Connor has been taken captive and the Wolfram and Hart building has swallowed Spike and Drusilla. Angel and Buffy decided to regroup back at the Hyperion but are now trapped in the back of a car in the underground garage. Meanwhile, in the streets above, it’s not just vampires who are in jeopardy as the morning sun climbs higher in the sky.( Then began the tempest to my soulCollapse )